Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-12-03
LONG AND sHuaT HAUL.
A RSssssari River steamboat HAN Ad,
drenHes the CQ1mmercr G0mmlHniau.

A ~Rgssseuri River steam boat HAN Ad-
dresses the Commerce Commission.
Bismarck Tribune: The inter state
commerce commission has requested
representative business men and trans-
portation companies to give thsir opin-
ion OF 40 long and short haul ciause of
the law upon the business Of the conn-
try, especially with regard to the COM
petition between ran and water. a
isttes OF this character addressed TO the
Benton Transportation company has
been replied to by Captain i. p. Baker
the company's manager at this point, and
through the courtesy OF that gentleman
the Tribune is enabled to give the same
publication. The following is Captain
Bakers letter:
Bismarck, OAK, November 29, 1857
O. O. MCCAIN, Eco, Auditor Interstate
commerce commission, Washington, D.
U. Dear Sir: Respectfully replying to
your communication OF the 20sh, I beg
TO state thsre no points upon the
line Of this company to or from whIch
Interstate rates for freight or passtn-
gers are higher than rates to Or from
more distant points in the same diree-
tion on or line on the upper Missouri
river. or the country tributary thereto.
- Referring to the long and short haul
principle, / desire to commend the law
as 1T now stands. In our opinion it con.
duces to the prosperity of river and lake
navigation. and tends TO. build up that
mode OF tras sportstion. 1t prevents
railroads from conducting o war of ex-
termination against water routeH OF
terminal points, and points where rail-
roads intersect the river at the expense
OF railroad local traffic. 1t does not
wholly prevent the railroads from max
ing this Wal of determination Casually
practioed against river routes;) but in
all such il gives the benefit OF such
competition to all intermediate local
points on Its line of road. I believe the
long and short haul clause tends to pro-
[teot and induce the construction of ali
line roads Between great commeFeiai
centers.
The entire northwest, including Da-
kota and Montana, ia particularly inter
ested in the maintenance of the Law as
il now stands. / beg to call particular
attention to the application Of tie law
on the upper Missouri river which is
~intersected ct Fort Benton. several,
hundred miles above Bismarck and at
several other points by roads recently
constructed. In past years RIVER steam
era have operated and have proved a
worthy competitor of railroads and
other modes of transportation. Permit
the violation OF the short haul principle,
and you would justify the new road in
making free rates TO Fort Benton and a
few river points at the expense of its
local patrons, until they forced the re-
tirement OF STEAMBOATS, which are now
operated in connection with eastern
roads ct Bismarck and points below and
giving the entire northwest she benefits
of oil rates made in competition between
river and rail.
1t is o we'll known fact hat the grea'
decrease and almost total destruction o.
commerce on all of the great rivera O
the west during the past few
years twas not. the result OF
OF honest competition between river ant
railroads; but rather by q Kate war o
determination prRcticed at q few princi
pie points on the river where intersectet
by railroads, and during which rate war
all local rates on the lines of railroads
were maintained, and in some casel
advanced by railroads to afford then
revenue to carry Oh the war against thu
river routes: in many instances railroad
refusing to furnish cars at their nea
local points for the transportation o
products to the river at the terminals
compelling shippers to pay high rate 10
transportation TO the river, aud to aver
tually abandon the river lines and shil
by s.ell rsil' at higher rates than coul,
possibly be charged if the long and shor
haul law WAC in existence.
In our experience the long and shor
haul clause is O benefit to the ,entir
country and should stand; for At compel
railroads and river route to give th
benefit of legitimate competition TO in
land towns az we'll as to river .centers,
Yours Truly,
]. p BAKER.